Textile drafting means



y 4, 1939- N. A. BATCHELDER 2,164,443

TEXTILE DRAFTING MEANS 7 Filed Aug. 26, 1937 P mMM%W,/@

' Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rax'ma naar'rma mums at... a. Batehelden-West Harrington. a. r. Application August so, 1927, Serial No. mam Claims. (01. ic-m) My present invention relates to textile drafting mechanism and has asa main object to improve the action of drafting rolls by maintaining their active portions in a clear condition, free 6 of fibrous particl lint or other extraneous matter tending to pair their emciency. While useful in connection with roll drafting devices of various types it is especially applicable to the drafting means of the patent to T. P. Rooney,

No. 1,933,222, granted October 2, 1933.

In the drawing illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a frame including clearing means in accordance with the i5 invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one end portion of a frame as in Fig. 1, with the front and intermediate pairs of rolls removed to expose the rear pair:

Pig. 3- is an enlarged section, asfor example on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing one form of means for demountably supporting the clearer elements; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Fig. 3, illustrating modified forms of readily demountable support for the brush shafting.

" In drafting textile fibers through sets of rolls, I find there is at times a tendency, especially in the case of non-fluted rolls, to accumulate fibrous particles, with the resulting likelihood of irregularity in the drafting operation. This collection of fibrous particles or other matter is sometimes such as to require cleaning of the rolls at more or less frequent intervals, involving stopping of a the machines. In drafting with the multiplepointed rolls of the Rooney patent above identitied, for example, such tendency is found more particularly'in working with certain weights and grades of cotton or other material, generally the o coarser grades. In accordance with the invention means is provided for insuring that the rolls remain clear at all times, irrespective of the character of the rolls or of the material being drafted, such means being particularly effective 45 in association with the multiple-pointed Rooney rolls above mentioned.

Referring to the drawing in more particular,

the portion of a frame illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be considered as representative of any 50 frame employing drafting rolls, such as generally included in the classes of drawing, slubbing, intermediate, roving and spinning frames. The drafting assembly as a whole is shown as supported on a platform i by pedestals 2 at suitable 55 points along it. The pedestals carry roll stands I for the brackets I for the lower rolls 5, 6 and I, illustrated as of the fluted type. At the rear of the roll stand is a post 8.for pivotally supporting as at 9 the adjustable cap bars III which go carry the upper series of rolls ll, l2 and i3.

set are shown as of the non-fluted or smoothcovered type. In the upper rear positions I have illustrated toothed, pointed or Rooney rolls ll similar to those of the patent identified, havinga drafting section composed of a multiplicity of teeth or points l3. 4

Drafting or spinning frames of the various types are generally of considerable length, having a plurality of sets or banks of rolls distributed along them in axial alignment, each set including an upper and lower series such as seen in Fig. -1, four such sets appearing in Fig. 2. The frame as a whole comprises one or more longitudinal sections, each including a plurality of such sets, two, four, six or other number between each two pedestals and stands 2, 3. Fig. 2 represents one-such section, in this case the right end section of the frame, and a small portion of the next adjoining section. The shafts of the lower rolls, such as the shaft 1', mi. 2, may be continuous through a number of sections. The upper rolls, which are not required to be driven except by contact with the corresponding lower rolls, generally have relatively short spindles or shafts extending between adjacent cap bars II, with one, two, or more rolls on each spindle. As represented in Fig. 2 the upper roll spindles, such as the spindles IS for the multiple-pointed rolls it, are of two-roll length, an intermediate cap bar I. being provided between the stands 3, 3 of the section illustrated.

The clearer means of my invention may be arranged for cooperation with any of the rolls, either in the lower or the upper series, and in any of the positions, front, intermediate or rear,

in the given series. In the illustrated example the multiple-pointed rolls are shown in the upper rear position and, since the clearer means is particularly useful with those rolls, I have shown such means in combination with them.

Accordingly, as best seen in Fig. 1, the hearing blocks ii at the end of each section, for the line of multiple-point rolls, are each provided with an upright bracket 20 integrally or otherwise attached, as by bolts 2ll=. These brackets serve to support the shafting 2i carrying the clearer elements or rotary brushes 22, one for each multiple-point roll ii.

The hairs, bristles or bristle-like members of these brush elements are preferably quite flexible and somewhat soft, as for example horsehair, so as to pass freely through or across the points of the rolls II, and being desirably somewhat finer and more closely disposed than said diameter of the rolls to be cleared.

For convenience in assembling, maintenance and replacement the shafting of the rotary brushes or clearer means desirably is formed in separable lengths, sections or units, herein represented as extending between adjacent stands 3, 3. In some instances, however, the clearer shafting may be continuous, similarly as the lower roll shaft 1, or it may be formed in even shorter sections, similarly as the upper roll spindles l3", additional brackets 20 being provided at the intermediate cap bars, as at the central portion of Fig. 2.

For demountably supporting the clearer shaft sections 2| in operative rotary position the brackets 23 are herein arranged to carry in fixed but vertically adjustable position split bearing blocks or sleeves 2| having internal annular ribs 23 integrally or otherwise secured. The sleeves 24 provide bearings for rotary shaft-carriers or shaft end supports 30. Each such carrier 3|! has an external grooved portion receiving the rib 23 of the corresponding bearing sleeve 24, whereby the carriers 33 are held against movement in the axial direction but are free to rotate in the sleeves 24.

The carriers 33 have provided at each end a shaft-receiving formation, illustrated as concentric sockets 3| and 3| respectively. The ends of the clearer shafts or shaft sections 2| are adapted for reception in said sockets, and clutch or connecting means is provided for releasably interengaging the shafts and carriers for rotation in unison. Such means as herein shown comprises cross-pins 32 in the carrier sockets and pin-receiving slots 33, 33 in the ends of the shafts. The slots at the opposite ends of the brush shaft units 2| are of different depths, the slots 33 for example being deeper than the slots 33, and the sockets 3| for the deeper slotted shaft ends 33 are suflficiently deep, inwardly of their pins 32, to permit the shaft units to be shifted axially into said sockets 3|, bringing their shallower slotted ends 33'- clear of the corresponding carrier sockets 3|. The shaft units may then be tilted and bodily removed.

Suitable spring means is provided for urging the shaft sections 2| toward the shallower sockets 3| and holding them in operative position therein, while allowing the shafts to be shifted lengthwise quickly to demount them when desired. For this purpose I have shown a leaf spring 34 in the deeper slot 33 of each shaft unit and riveted, welded or otherwise held in place on the shaft, as indicated at 35, Fig. 3. It will be seen that the clutch-like pin-and-slot connections or interengaging formations afford a driving connection between the carriers 30 and the received shaft ends, whereby the carriers serve to couple the several axially aligned shaft sections for rotation in unison.

At one or both ends of the frame, as seen for example at the right in Fig. 2, the outermost shaft carrier 30 has a short extension shaft extension ll carries a gear 4| meshing with a similar gear 42 fast at the adjacent end of the shaft 1' for the corresponding lower roll I. In this manner the rotary clearer brushes are positively driven from said lower shaft and accordingly rotate in a direction opposite to that of the latter. As viewed in Fig. 1 the lower rolls 1 rotate in the counter-clockwise direction and the clearer shaft driven from the lower roll shaft turns clockwise. The multiple-point rolls I3, which are not positively driven but are rotated by engagement with the lower rolls 1, also turn in the clockwise direction. Hence the adjacent peripheral portions of the rolls l3 and of their corresponding brush elements move oppositely, as indicatedby the arrows in Fig. 1. This differential motion affords a wiping action whereby any fibrous particles caught on the points of the rolls l3 are wiped clear. In instances where it may be preferable for the adjacent surfaces of the clearer brushes and their corresponding rolls to travel in the same direction an intermediate pinion may be introduced between the gears II and 42, on a stud shaft provided for the purpose. In such case the gearing and the relative diameters of the brushes and rolls are so designed as to afford a somewhat greater lineal speed for the brush surface thereby affording a differential motion with wiping effect on any accumulated particles on the multiple-point or other roll to be cleared.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated another form of demountable bearing support for the brush sections or units 2|. In this instance the brackets 23 carry open-top bearings or bearing blocks 24. Rotatably received in each such bearing is a thimble or sleeve 33 having end flanges 5|, 5| engaging over the end faces of the bearings and so positioning the sleeve lengthwise. The adjacent ends of two adjoining brush unit shafts 2| are received in the corresponding sleeve 50, and are provided with interengaging formations such as the tongue 32 and slot 53, disengageable by relative lateral movement of the two shaft sections. By lifting the shafting and sleeve 53, as permitted by the open-top bearings 24' the sleeve may be slid lengthwise in one or the other direction sufficiently to expose the shaft ends, enabling them to be disengaged and the desired brush unit to be withdrawn completely.

The mounting as in Fig. 4 is particularly adapted for smaller sizes of brush shafting, such for example as one-half inch diameter. With larger shafting the sleeves ill may be dispensed with in some instances, as illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the ends of the brush shafts 2|, 2| are received directly in an open-top bearing block 24.

Referring again to Fig. 1, means desirably is provided for removing and collecting the fibrous particles from the clearer brushes, as such particles are taken from the drafting rolls l3 by the brushes. structed and arranged, and as illustrated in said Fig. 1 it is carried by the usual cover or clearer cover 60 which is pivoted on the cap bar pivot 9 on the post 3. Such cover extends forwardly over the pairs of rolls, in its down position, being supported at its forward position as by the foot 6| received on a stop 62 appropriately located, as on the front top roll bearing block H or on the cap bar I.

At the inner face of the main top portion of the cover 60, in vertical alignment with the Such means may be variously con-' merely to simplify the drawing).

brushes 22 is a depending flat bracket 63 integrally or otherwise secured to the cover, as by screws 64. Said bracket is of a length to extend along above the several brush elements 22 of the particular section of the machine, each section such as shown in Fig. 2, generally having its individual cover (the latter being omitted in Fig, 2 On the fiat under face of the bracket 63 is a strip of fibrecollecting material 65, for which I may employ card-clothing of suitable gauge and fineness, preferably corresponding to the point arrangement of the rolls l3. The wires or points 86 of said collecting means preferably have their ends turned, as indicated at 61, oppositely to the direction of movement of the adjacent upper portion of the underlying brushes 22, so as to take from the latter the fibrous material brushed from the pointed rolls l3.

It will be understood that the bracket 63 is proportioned to present the points 66 at the proper level for cooperation with the brushes, so that the hairs of the latter will wipe across or through the ends of said points. In some installations the brushes may be sufficiently close to the inner face of the cover that the bracket may be unnecessary, in which case the point-carrying material 65 may be attached directly to the cover. The accumulation of fibrous material on the collecting points 66 may readily be removed at such intervals as may be necessary merely by lifting the cover and wiping said points, without stopping or interfering with the operation of the drafting mechanism.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims:

1. In a yarn drafting or spinning frame, in combination, a support, roll stands thereon, brackets having bearings for a series of lower rolls, cap bars having bearings for a corresponding series of upper'rolls, and cooperating pairs of rolls rotatively positioned in the respective lower and upper bearings, the upper roll series including a line of rolls having their drafting portions formed of a multiplicity of radial points,

sectional shafting rotatively disposed above and paralleling the axes of said pointed rolls, radial brush elements on the shafting, means supporting the shafting for readily demounting the same sectionally, and gearing connections for driving said shafting and brush elements in timed relation with the lower rolls of the pairs which include the pointed rolls and in suchmanner that .the adjacent peripheralportions of the latter and ofthe brush elements move in opposition to each other.

2. In a yarn drafting or spinning frame, in combination, a support, roll stands thereon,

' brackets having bearings for a series of lower rolls, cap bars having bearings for a corresponding series of upper rolls, and cooperating pairs of rolls rotatively positioned in the respective lower and upper bearings, one of the upper roll series comprising a line of rolls having their tatably received by said brackets, detachable connections between said bearing elements and the shaft whereby the latter and the brush elements thereon may readily be demounted, and gearing connections for said shaft to drive the same so that the portions of the brush element engaging the pointed rolls move in opposition to the engaged portions of the latter.

3. In textile drafting mechanism, in combination'with a frame having one or more sets of drafting rolls comprising upper and lower series in paired relation, corresponding rolls of each set being in axial alignment, the upper rolls of one set having their drafting portions formed of a multiplicity of radial points, rotary clearer brush elements circumferentially' engageable with said pointed rolls, clearer shafting comprising a plurality of aligned shaft units each carrying one or more of said elements, bearing brackets on the frame for said shaft units, and open-top bearing element on each bracket, a sleeve receivable in said bearing element and having end flanges positioning it longitudinally, said sleeve adapted to receive the adjoining ends of two shaft units, and interengageable projection and recess formations at the shaft ends for releasably interconnecting the latter for rotation in unison, each shaft unit.

being demountable by lifting from the bearing element and sliding said sleeve axially to expose the end of the particular unit, and means for driving said shafting so as to rotate the brush elements about their axes in the same direction as the pointed rolls.

4. In a yarn drafting or spinning frame, in combination, a support, roll stands thereon, brackets having bearings for a series of lower rolls, cap bars having a corresponding series of bearings for upper rolls, and cooperating pairs of rolls rotatively positioned in the respective lower and upper bearings, at least one roll of the upper series having a drafting portion formed of a multiplicity of radial points, shafting rotatively disposed above and paralleling the axes of said pointed roll or rolls, radial brush elements on said shafting, gearing connections to drive said shafting and brush elements in the same direction as the pointed roll or rolls thereby to clear the latter, a cover movably supported on the roll stand so as to overlie the rolls, and comb-like "ga'ge' "and collect from themrotary, means mattertaken by the latter from the pointed roll or rolls. f

5. In a yarn drafting or spinning frame, in combination, a support, roll stands thereon, brackets having bearings for a series of lower rolls, cap'bars-having a corresponding series of bearings for upper rolls, and cooperating pairs of rolls rotatively positioned in the respective lower and upper bearings, at least one roll of the upper series having a drafting portion formed, of a multiplicity of radial points, shafting rotatively disposed above and paralleling the axes of said pointed roll or rolls, radial brush elements on said shafting, gearingconnections to drive said shafting and brush elements in the same direction as the pointed roll or rolls thereby to clear the latter, a cover movably supported on the roll stand so as to. overlie the rolls, a section of point-carrying material in the nature of card- NELSON 'A. BA'I'CHELDER. 

